Flavoring sirup pump



Feb. 23, 19321. a c. THOMPSON 1,846,500

FLAVORING SIRUP PUMP Filed June 14. 1929 llllll- Patented Feb. 23, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT, @FFHQE FLAVORING SIRUP PUMP Application filed June14,

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices of the typeemployed in connection with soda fountains for the handling of flavoringsirups.

The flavoring employed in connection with soda fountain drinks is mixedwith a sirup and this is kept in suitable ars and is transferred fromthe ars to the glasses by means of pumps, which are operated by means ofa piston rod and piston and which have a nozzle under which the glass isheld and through which the sirup is forced to travel on its way from thepump to the glass. As these sirups contain a large amount of sugar,there is a gradual accumulation of crystallized sugar from the interiorof the nozzle with the result that the opening in the nozzle becomesvery restricted and oftentimes entirely closed. In order to make thepumps function properly, it is necessary to remove this crystallizedsugar from the interior of the nozzles at frequent intervals and forthis purpose it is customary to employ the blade of a knife or somesimilar sharp instrument which is used for scraping the crystallizedsugar and removing it from the nozzle. By this method of cleaning thenozzles are often damaged to a considerable degree, as they are madefrom blocked tin which is very soft and when a sharp instrument is usedfor cleaning, the metal is cut away with the result that the nozzle soonbegins to drip and this drip is highly objectionable since it leaves anaccumulation of crystallized sugar on the outside of the nozzle.

Itis the object of this invention to produce a flavoring syrupdispensing pump which shall be so constructed that the nozzle can bereadily detached and cleaned by means of hot water and which, therefore,makes it possible to very quickly replace a 'nozzle that has becomeinoperative,'due to the accumulation of crystallized sugar, with a cleannozzle. This invention, briefly described, consists in forming thenozzle of two parts, one of which can be readily re moved and replaced,and the other of which is permanently attached to the pump portion. Onaccount of the nature of the liquid that is transferred to pumps of thetype to which 1929. Serial No. 370,795.

this invention relates, it is necessary toproduce a special form ofconnection between the two parts of the nozzle so as to prevent theparts from becoming filled up with crystallized sugar and so as toproduce a perfectly tight joint between the two parts. And an object ofthis invention is, therefore, to produce a special form of connectionbetween the two parts of the nozzle, which will be described in detailhereinafter.

This invention can be'most clearly described and will be most readilyunderstood when reference is had to the accompanying drawings in whichthe invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the pum applied to a conventionaljar, parts being broken away to better disclose the construction; and iFig. 2 is a section through the improved nozzle showingthe preferredform of construction. i

In the drawings numeral 1 represents a jar of the type employed in sodafountains and which is adapted to contain the sirup which has beendesignated by reference numeral 2. These jars are ordinarily ofrectangular shape and are provided with an upwardly extending collar 3which surrounds a circular opening at the top. A cover 4 is supported onthe collar 3 and this cover has attached to it a pump mechanism. Thepump is of a type well known and does not form part of my invention andI will therefore limit my description thereof to those parts which arenecessary in order to properly describe my invention. The pump isprovided with a cylinder 5, which has a capacity cor responding to theamount of sirup required for a glass of soda water. A piston 6 isattached to the lower end of the piston rod 7 and is held in theposition shown in Fig. l by means of a spring located within the tube 8.The upper end of the cylinder is cut away as indicated by referencenumeral 9 so that the sirup can flow into the cylinder when the pistonis in its uppermost position. A pipe 10 is connected with the interiorof the cylinder through an opening 11 and the upper end of this pipeextends through the top of the cover 4 and is connected with theinterior of the lower section 12 of the nozzle. The nozzle is made intwo parts and the outer section which has been designated by referencenumeral 13 is so connected with section 12 that it can be readilyremoved and replaced. The outer end of section 13 is curved downwardlyas indicated by reference numeral 14 and when the plunger 15 which isconnected with the-upper end of. the piston rod 7, is moved downwardly,the sirup will pass upwardly through pipe 10 and through the nozzlewhenever the piston is moved downwardly and in this manner. a:predetermined amount of sirup is delivered to the glass. hen the pistonmoves upwardly, after having delivered a quantity of sirup, the suctionproducedby itsupward movement will return the sirup from the nozzle andpipe to the cylinder and in this way the interior of the nozzle is keptfree from liquid when the pump is not in use.

The sirup employed contains a large amount of sugar and when the sirupthat remains on the inner surface of the nozzle comes in contact withthe air, the liquid evaporates and leaves a layer of crystallized sugarwithin the nozzle. As the pump is used intermittently and a large numberof times every day,,the accumulation of crystallized sugar increasesvery rapidly with the result that in one or two days, the nozzle getsquite well filled up with crystallized sugar and has to be cleaned. Asabove pointed out, the usual way of cleaning the crystallized sugar fromthe nozzles is to employ a knife blade by means of which the sugar isromoved by scraping. Owing to the fact that the metal of which thenozzle is constructed is very soft. being invariably made of-blockedtin, the metal is cut away to some extent every time the nozzle iscleaned and the outer end of the nozzle very quickly obtains acurvedsurface instead of terminating in a sharp edge as shown in the drawings.This curved surface causes drops of' sirup to adhere and there run downalong the under'surface of the nozzle and onto the top of the cover 4,thereby giving the parts a soiledv appearance.

In order to make it possible to clean the nozzle without resorting tothe use of a sharp instrument, I have constructed it of two parts, thepart 13 being removable, and therefore, whenever this becomes cloggeddue to accumulations of crystallized sugar, it can be removed and placedin. hot water which will dissolve the sugar and the nozzle can thereforebe cleaned without also being damaged.

It often happens that the nozzle becomes so badly stopped up that it hasto be cleaned innned'iately and when this must be done at a time wherethe attendant is busy, it causes consideral' l'e delay andinconvenience, and it is therefore evident that for the mostsatisfactory results, a nozzle should be so constructed that theexchange can be made very quickly. In Fig. 2 I have shown the part 12 ofthe nozzle provided with a tapered end 16. This taper must be verygradual and I have adopted what is known as the Morse taper, such as isemployed in drill presses as this taper has been found by experience togive a firm connection between two parts. The part 13 of the nozzle hasits inner surface tapered as indicated at 17 so as to conform to thetaper of the part 16 and when the part 13 is put in place it will beheld very securely but canreadily be removed by the application of thenecessary force. when parts 12and 13 are connected, as shown in Fig. 2,that the removal of part 13will require only an instant of time andthat, a new nozzle portion can be very quickly put in place. By havingthe surfaces tapered,,they can readily be cleaned so that a good fitwill be assured and so that the crystallization of the sirup will notmake them stick together.

The removable part has been provided with a thickened wall 19 where itconnects with the stationary part, this is for the purpose of resistingthestrains which wouldotherwise stretch the material. Since the partsare made of block tin, they are very soft and unless they are quitemassive at the point where connection is made, they are likely'tostretch.

From the above description it will be seen that by thesimple expedientof making the nozzle in two parts, and of so connecting the parts thatthey can be readily separatedv and connected, I have greatly improvedthe ordinary flavoring sirup pump so that the nozzle can be kept cleanat all times so as to insure a satisfactory operation.

Particular attention is called to the form of connection shown in Fig. 2as this is believed to be of particular value in a device of this typewhere it is necessary to make the desired change quickly and where theparts must be kept scrupulously clean. By the use of the Morse taperjoint, the parts will be held very rigidly in assembled relation andwill permit the parts to be separated with the least possible loss oftime.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a sirup dispensing pump having a cylinder, a piston operativelyassociated with the cylinder and a discharge pipe having one endconnected with the interior of the cylinder, a two part nozzle securedto the free end of the delivery pipe, that portion of the nozzle that isconnected directly with the delivery pipe whose outer surface near itsend is smooth and tapered and the other part of the nozzle having asmooth tapered opening adapted to receive the tapered end of the otherpart of the nozzle, the part having the tapered opening having its wallsincreased in It is evident that thickness so that it will resist thestrains to which it is subjected.

2. In a pump for delivering flavoring sirup in measured quantities, anozzle formed from tWo separate parts, one of which has its end providedWith a smooth tapered outer surface and the other of which has a smoothtapered opening adapted to receive the tapered end of the other part,the part having the tapered opening having its Walls of increased thickness so that it will resist the strains to which it is subjected.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES L. THOMPSON.

